swcrawford
member
Reged: 06/15/08
Posts: 31
Loc: Western Tennessee, USA
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Mel,
I read earlier in the thread that you used a piece of 6" OD x .083" thick tubing for your dew shield. I need to make up a dew shield for my SS 127mm/700mm cell. How did that tube fit on your lens cell? Was it just a slip-on type fit or did you have to do any sanding or shimming?
Thanks,
SC
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10" LX200 EMC
ST-80
Atlas EQ-G mount
ETX125PE
Canon EOS Digital Rebel 300D [unmodified]
Phillips SPC900NC [unmodified]
Meade DSI 2 color
Homebuilt Portable Power Supply
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 316
Loc: Slidell La
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Allan!Glad that they arrived ok.I've been blessed with having a couple of low humidity days here on the Gulf Coast to get the 5" Yulin out.I am impressed with the image sharpness especially when the 10mm-2" diameter wollensak eyepiece was used on the waning gibbous moon.Jupiter was even better as the moons presented disc-like views.A great scope this is turning out to be so far.Looking forward to your reports on the progress of your scope .G
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3518
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Mel....That hammered finish really looks good. Oh did you finish reading the funnies before spraying on them? What I enjoy about you guy'ses posts is the ingenuity displayed in building these 5-inchers.
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 316
Loc: Slidell La
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Hi Magic!The scope looks great,and it does look just like the one I have. Where did you get yours and what company made it? I named mine after the company who made the objective but I dont know who builds these.The mount design is very interesting!Great Job!!!  Gary(G)
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 554
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Quote:
Hi Magic!The scope looks great,and it does look just like the one I have. Where did you get yours and what company made it? I named mine after the company who made the objective but I dont know who builds these.The mount design is very interesting!Great Job!!! Gary(G)
Thanks, Gary! I got it from Sheldan Faworski, right here through the CN classifieds. I don't know for sure what company made it, as it is not listed on the tube anywhere, but based on it's overall size and specs, my best guess is that it's an Apogee scope.
Thanks for the nice words about the mount - I originally built a more cumbersome design, and when I posted it here, someone else posted a picture of what they had done. I liked that idea FAR better than what mine was at the time, so I re-did the mount and cut the tripod lower to make it that way instead. The one aspect I kept of mine was to leave the counterweights on the scope "holder" near the focuser - this balances the scope so that there's less height differential for the focuser from horizon to zenith.
It's probably my favorite scope presently - very easy to move and set up, plus it's got enough aperture to see quite a bit and a long enough focal length to really crank up magnification when required too. I had some extended family here this weekend looking at Jupiter through it, and they were very impressed with it.
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- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 552
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Hey Mikey Cee,
Thanks for the kind words. Constructing this 5" incher is a complete joy. The only downfall is the amount of time I have to work on the project. Much like in building my 10" Newtonian, it festers up the creative juices. Let alone the great views I am hoping it will produce.
In building my 5", I have learned a wealth of knowledge from many of the 5" builders on CN, which has kept me from making major mistakes. I am very grateful to all of you for your insight and support. 
I just hope you guys can hang in there until I get this thing done.
Mel
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Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 552
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Hi Allan,
Throw up a new photo of your 5" with the new rings. Have you been putting it to use lately with your busy schedule?
Mel
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Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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rwiederrich
Goldfinger
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 8330
Loc: Bremerton Washington
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Quote:
Hey Mikey Cee,
Thanks for the kind words. Constructing this 5" incher is a complete joy. The only downfall is the amount of time I have to work on the project. Much like in building my 10" Newtonian, it festers up the creative juices. Let alone the great views I am hoping it will produce.
In building my 5", I have learned a wealth of knowledge from many of the 5" builders on CN, which has kept me from making major mistakes. I am very grateful to all of you for your insight and support.
I just hope you guys can hang in there until I get this thing done.
Mel
Mel...how exciting to see you approach your completion date for the whole project.
I'm proud of your persaverance...and patients.
Rob
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www.goldmtobservingcenter.com
A great place for amateur astronomers, and ATM's to come and enjoy their hobby.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/HomemadeRefractorTelescopes/ My homemade refractor group.
www.vimeo.com/6014031
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 552
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Hey SC,
Sorry for not answering your question in a timely manner from this thread. But, I did respond to your PM. I will post the details of my message below.
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The inside diameter of my 6" D x 9" L x .083 W" dew shield is just a tad larger than the raised dew shield support ribs on the outside of the objective lens cell. When I installed Protostar flocking material to the inside of the dew shield, it made the fit a bit better, but not snug enough for my taste. To aid in making the dew shield fit even better, I plan to attach pieces/ pads of adhesive dense foam (black preferably) around the outside circumference of the objective cell between the dew shield support ribs to establish an even tighter fit. The foam would have to be slightly thicker than the height of the ribs by between 1 to 2 millimeters, or so; but not to much to cause the Protostar flocking material to detach when the dew shield is slid onto the objective cell. All in all, with just the flocking material alone, it fits as long as you do not point the objective down; therefore justifying the pieces/ pads of foam. Without this added support, the dew shield may slide off prematurely. I will post a diagram/ rendering to convey my idea more clearly on the thread as soon as possible.
Mel
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Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
Edited by dawsonian2000 (11/11/09 02:12 AM)
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 552
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Hey Rob,
Thanks for sharing your encouraging words! I must apologize in not including 10" refractor builders as being instrumental in supporting my efforts in building my 127mm.  You were always there and have been of great help to me in this project and I am very appreciative.
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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rwiederrich
Goldfinger
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 8330
Loc: Bremerton Washington
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Quote:
Hey Rob,
Thanks for sharing your encouraging words! I must apologize in not including 10" refractor builders as being instrumental in supporting my efforts in building my 127mm. You were always there and have been of great help to me in this project and I am very appreciative.
Mel
Thanks for the recognition Mel...but your woodworking and skills have proven you have what it takes to tackle the multiple tasks in making your own refractor....
I'm just a guy with wierd ideas. 
Keep up the super work.
Rob
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www.goldmtobservingcenter.com
A great place for amateur astronomers, and ATM's to come and enjoy their hobby.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/HomemadeRefractorTelescopes/ My homemade refractor group.
www.vimeo.com/6014031
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 316
Loc: Slidell La
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Well,with Tropical Storm Ida having pulled to the east of us here,the winds have shifted around coming from the north.I stepped outside because I wanted to bring the 5" out and looked skyward.Glorious!Jupiter is high in the south and skies are crystal clear though a bit windy so I will try a set up on tomorrow evening.I'm encouraged by the weather reports of clear skies over the next few days.Mel Dawson is coming up from Riverview FL on personal business for a few days and we plan to get togather for a viewing session on Friday.It will be his first session with me as we will be using the 5" and probably the 8" f/6 Hardin reflector.More Later.G
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 552
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Well, as luck would have it, we broke down in Tallahassee, FL on the way to New Orleans. The clutch on my car's A/C seized up and it ruined the entire A/C compressor. Big money for sure to get this repaired. Nevertheless, I should be back on the road this afternoon. The observing session with Gary is still on! 
Gary! I am bringing the tripod legs for the Tasco 10te-5. I did not forget them.
Mel
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 316
Loc: Slidell La
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Well,Mel arrived later in the evening here at my home and we set up the 5" f/9.While it was acclimating to the cool air outside,we were discussing the remaining work that he needs to do on his scope and it seems that it will not be much longer until he will be putting it in to operation.Unfortunately the weather began to change as high clouds drifted in from the southwest while we were viewing ,so we were only able to look at Jupiter and the Orion Nebula before we clouded over.Later Mel was able to help me with getting my pc up to speed before he left.He will depart for home on Saturday as it is roughly a 12 hour drive back to Riverview.However he was impressed with this refractor and we both are looking forward to getting this one and his togather at his place for another viewing session real soon. G
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 552
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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We just made it home from New Orleans about an hour ago. While in NOLA, I visited Gary at his residence in Slidell. It was great to see him in person again. Having the opportunity to see his 5" f/9 was a treat. The weather did not prevail with high altitude cirrostratus clouds in the area, but the views of Jupiter and the Orion nebula were great. Perhaps on his visit to Riverview the weather will be better.
Also, I brought Gary the tripod legs from my the spare 7te-5 for his 10te-5 refractor. Look forward to seeing them installed.
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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allanovercast
member
Reged: 08/02/07
Posts: 55
Loc: Billings, MT
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I will attempt to put up a photo this evening. As for using it, when it is not cloudy I have been enjoying it, but my current mount is to small to handle the several scopes I use for photography, so I am beginning to design a GEM mount that can handle the scope and accessories. But for visual observing, it is wonderful.
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Allan Overcast
Cloudy Skies Observatory
10" Meade RCX-400
80mm Homeade Refractor
1277mm Homeade Refractor
Canon 350D Modified Camera
Q-Guider Camera
Pier-Tech 2 Pier
8' Exploradome
http://www.cloudyskies.org
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 316
Loc: Slidell La
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Hi Allan! Great to hear from you again!I'm looking forward to seeing your new scope. I have great admiration for the guys on this thread who have built their scopes from scratch. Mel and I also discussed the upcoming plans I have to remount my scope onto a CG-5 unit, a new one with a polar alighnment scope built in I've had for some time now but needs motors. This is similar to the one I gave Mel to use for his scope and is heavier than the present mount I'm now using. As I said ,Mel visited last Friday and we got some observing in with the 5" f/9 before the sky started to cloud up,so our next opportunity will have to wait until an upcoming trip to Riverview sometime next year.My plan is to bring this scope down with me and hopefully we can have an observing session with the two instruments togather weather permitting.Also looking forward to your first light observing report.We have a cold front coming through tonight clearing out the skies so the next few days of the week may be ok to get the scope out .Gary(G)
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
Edited by BarabinoSr (11/16/09 04:31 PM)
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allanovercast
member
Reged: 08/02/07
Posts: 55
Loc: Billings, MT
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I will get the pictures posted tonight. I had a plumbing issue come up last night, only 5 feet from the scope, so close but yet so far, but that is fixed.
I wanted to make sure the scope was stable in the new rings as I could move the OTA without a lot of effort. My last rings the OTA slid down once, luckly I caught it before it slid out, so I am a little careful. But so far the OTA has not moved at all. I am considering inserting a couple of screws in the OTA that would be emergency stops if the OTA ever started slipping. The screws would stop and slipping at the rings before it could slip any farther. I would then paint over them so you would never see them, but they are there just in case.
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Allan Overcast
Cloudy Skies Observatory
10" Meade RCX-400
80mm Homeade Refractor
1277mm Homeade Refractor
Canon 350D Modified Camera
Q-Guider Camera
Pier-Tech 2 Pier
8' Exploradome
http://www.cloudyskies.org
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allanovercast
member
Reged: 08/02/07
Posts: 55
Loc: Billings, MT
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I have a few shots, not the best as my good camera is looking long and hard at M33 taking a long sequence on the RCX400. So here is where I am at on the project; hope to finish in the next month. I have to get the dew shield finished. It is cut, polished and ready for the paint. I need to finish the baffles and then would like to get a custom focuser adapter for the Antares focuser that goes on the outside of the tube and not the inside. It will make the back look much better. Then on the the GEM mount. I am about to order the 11-1/2" 360 tooth, 1" thick worm gears, but I will work on a different thread for that.
Edited by allanovercast (11/17/09 11:12 PM)
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allanovercast
member
Reged: 08/02/07
Posts: 55
Loc: Billings, MT
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...and the awesome rings
--------------------
Allan Overcast
Cloudy Skies Observatory
10" Meade RCX-400
80mm Homeade Refractor
1277mm Homeade Refractor
Canon 350D Modified Camera
Q-Guider Camera
Pier-Tech 2 Pier
8' Exploradome
http://www.cloudyskies.org
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